Dheeraj develops new life skills as a St Luke’s volunteer

Meet Dheeraj Kakade, a graduate in Engineering from the University of Mumbai in India. Dheeraj came to South Yorkshire and the University of Sheffield to continue his studies and decided that volunteering would be a great way to gain a deeper understanding of his new home city and its people.

“Sheffield is known for being a student-friendly city so I was really happy when I got an offer from the university but I felt I needed something to add to the experience," he says.

“I have spent my whole life in India so moving to a new place in another part of the world, I definitely knew there was room to work on myself-confidence and self-esteem and volunteering was one of the ways I felt I could do that.

“That was when I came across the news of the new store opening at The Moor.

“Back at home I had volunteered by doing a beach clean-up activity and feeding stray dogs and I know how important it is to feel you are giving something back.”

That’s why Dheeraj is now supporting St Luke’s as we prepare for the 2024 Big Help Out, the national campaign to get more people volunteering.

Dheeraj is happy to explain how volunteering at The Moor has brought so much into his life.

“What I am most grateful for is the freedom and variety of work that I am doing here,” he says.

“I do a range of activities from steaming and sorting clothes, sorting housewares, preparing things for sale and then also taking part in extensive customer care and being on the till - I don’t think there is anything I haven’t done!”

Dheeraj enjoys being part of the team so much that he even competed in the recent Sheffield Half Marathon, proudly wearing the St Luke’s colours.

“I definitely enjoy every minute of my time with St Luke’s because I am someone who is always curious to try new things and when I say that I found the need to develop my self esteem and self confidence, St Luke’s was the perfect match,” he says.

“Giving back to society was my first priority but learning from the things I have experienced here - gaining extensive experience and meeting new people - is something that every international student should look for because it really makes you feel good.

“St Luke’s is like family to me and being there is something I look forward to every week.”